|
Overview
Visudyne therapy is based on a technology called photodynamic therapy that uses different kinds of light-activated drugs to treat a wide range of medical conditions. Any disease in which there is fast-growing tissue can potentially be treated with this technology.
Visudyne therapy is typically performed in a doctor's office on an outpatient basis. You will be unusually sensitive to light for 5 days following Visudyne therapy, so preparing for treatment is key. Your eyecare specialist will give you a list of instructions to follow before and after therapy to minimize the risk of complications.
What happens during treatment
First, Visudyne is injected into the bloodstream, usually through a vein in the patient's arm. The drug is quickly absorbed by the abnormal blood vessels in the back of the eye that cause sight loss in the "wet" form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Second—a short time after the drug has been given—a cold laser is shone into the affected area of the eye for exactly 83 seconds. This activates the drug and produces a reaction that destroys the abnormal blood vessels.
Visudyne is a "multi-course" therapy
Visudyne therapy is typically given about every 3 months and as many times as needed to prevent the regrowth of abnormal blood vessels. For most people, this involves 6 to 7 treatments over 2 to 3 years. Wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an aggressive disease, and continued deterioration of sight is possible as long as these abnormal vessels are leaking.
There is no cure for AMD. While Visudyne helps destroy existing abnormal blood vessels that can leak and damage sight, there is currently no therapy that will restore sight that has already been lost. Therefore, patients and their loved ones need to have realistic expectations for therapy.
Studies have shown that patients who complete a full course of Visudyne therapy are more likely to preserve their vision than those who have no therapy. There is currently no therapy that will cure AMD.
To learn more about Visudyne therapy and AMD, join the Visudyne mySight™ Program for FREE information and support. For more information, click here.
Continue
Related pages on this site:
Managing Treatment Appointments
Prescribing Information
|
